»—— act three. eclipse
☽⋅── THREE ──there's something you need to know ─⋅☾

As the day arrived, Eve found herself facing an unexpected storm of emotions. She had tried to push the unease aside, but now that the moment was upon her, it was much more difficult to ignore the anxiousness bubbling within her.

Standing there, she took a deep, steadying breath, her hands clenching into fists at her sides as if trying to hold onto her resolve. This was it. It was time to face the pack.

Doubt crept into her mind as she questioned whether she was making a bigger deal out of this than necessary. Part of her was strongly against the idea, but in the depths of her heart, she had a nagging fear that this feeling of reluctance might not disappear.

Unable to shake the worry, she knew she should've given herself more time to prepare, but a growing suspicion whispered that her heart might never truly be ready for this.

Carlisle stood by Eve outside the house, patiently awaiting the arrival of Eleanor from school. The air between them was thick with anticipation, both of them silently lost in their own thoughts. Carlisle kept a watchful eye on Eve, sensing the quiet nervousness that seemed to radiate from her.

Eve leaned onto his shoulder, her voice a soft murmur filled with frustration. "This feeling just won't go away," she admitted, her body tense with anxiety.

Carlisle instinctively wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer to him in an attempt to offer some comfort. He could sense her unease, and his own protective instincts kicked in.

"It's like a knot in the pit of my stomach," Eve continued, her words almost lost in the quiet of the moment.

Carlisle tightened his hold on her, his hand rubbing small, soothing circles on her shoulder. He could feel the tension in her body, hear the worry in her voice, and silently wished he could do more to ease her mind.

Carlisle's voice was gentle as he posed the question, his concern evident in his tone.

"Any theories?" he asked, his gaze fixed on her.

Eve shook her head, her expression thoughtful. "No," she responded, her voice tinged with bemusement. "The thing is, it's not the typical feeling of danger or dread. It's just this uncomfortable feeling of..." She struggled for a moment to find the right word. "Discomfort."

Carlisle hummed in understanding. "Back then, did you ever feel this sense of unease before doing something?"

Eve responded with a firm nod, "Oh, many times."

Carlisle continued, his curiosity piqued, "And how did you deal with that feeling?"

Eve thoughtfully pondered his question before answering, "Well, in most cases, I just told myself it was okay, that the uncomfortable feeling would eventually pass."

Carlisle nodded, pondering her words. "So, what makes this time different?" he inquired, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

Eve pursed her lips and furrowed her brows, her expression contemplative. She considered the question for a moment before replying, "I'm not sure. Maybe it's because I've only just gotten my memories back, and I'm still adjusting to everything."

He shifted her body to face him, his touch gentle as he used his hands to direct her, so her eyes met his. Then, he leaned in and pressed a tender kiss on her forehead.

As Carlisle drew back slightly, he looked into her eyes, his gaze filled with a mixture of concern and affection. "I'll be honest, I don't know if I can do much to alleviate your unease," he confessed, his voice quiet and sincere.

"But there is one thing I can promise." He continued, his hands coming up to gently cup her face, his thumbs softly caressing her cheeks.

"No matter what happens today, no matter how uncomfortable you feel, or how much the feeling persists," he whispered, his voice filled with fierce determination. "I will be there if you need it."

Eve couldn't help but chuckle softly, shaking her head in both disbelief and affection. "No, you're not breaking the treaty just for me," she protested, her voice firm yet affectionate.

Carlisle leaned his forehead against hers, his gaze intense and sincere as he stated, "Even so, I'd still do it for you and Eleanor."

A strange sensation washed over her as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. It could be because of his words or perhaps because she didn't want him to put himself in harm's way. Regardless, this small moment had a profound effect on her.

"Carlisle," she began, her voice softer now, tinged with a hint of vulnerability.

He pulled back just enough to focus on her face, sensing the shift in her tone. "Yes?" he prompted gently, his hands still cupping her face.

"I love you, so much. Why do you always manage to know what to say?" She hummed leaning into his cold touch.

Carlisle smiled tenderly at her words, his expression a mix of affection and contentment, "I just know you too well," he replied, his voice soft yet confident. His hands still gently cradled her face as if committing it to memory.

"And I love you, so much," he whispered, his eyes locking with hers, the depth of his feelings evident in his gaze.

As Eleanor's car pulled into the driveway, both Carlisle and Eve turned their attention towards the approaching vehicle. Carlisle couldn't help but notice a hint of annoyance on Edward's face as he quickly exited the car and rushed off elsewhere in the house.

Eleanor, watching Edward's departure, let out a small sigh.

Meanwhile, Eve moved towards the car, stopping briefly to place a sweet kiss on Carlisle's cheek before walking over to where Eleanor waited, leaning against the car.

Eleanor slipped into the driver's seat while Eve took her place in the passenger seat. As they closed the car doors and began to drive off, Eve couldn't help but express her hope aloud.

"Do you think he'll come around?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hopeful note.

Eleanor let out a sigh, her expression a mixture of understanding and annoyance. "Not for a while," she replied, her eyes focused on the road.

Eve's eyes flickered with a hint of understanding. "Jealousy comes in many forms," she noted, her words wise.

Eleanor nodded in agreement, a hint of aggravation in her voice as she added, "Yeah, but maybe I'll be more considerate if he finally grows a spine and agrees to be with me."

Eve chuckled softly at her daughter's words, recognizing the mixture of exasperation and affection in her tone, "So now you want it?" Eve asked, her tone tinged with mild surprise. "Why not just ask him?"

Eleanor let out a snort, her frustration evident as she replied, "I have, multiple times. But he always changes the subject. I'm pretty sure he's afraid I'll ask him to change me or something, but I've made it clear; I don't want to become a vampire unless I have no choice."

She then sighed and suddenly redirected the conversation, steering it away from personal matters. "Let's talk about the pack," she suggested, her tone serious.

Eve nodded in agreement, her smile gentle. "Sure, what do I need to know?" she inquired.

Eleanor began to share information about each of the males in the pack, detailing their personalities and what she could expect from them. She didn't have to explain the obvious scar on Emily's face, knowing that her mother, a doctor, would never disrespectfully stare or mention it, as it was against her nature to draw attention to such matters.

Throughout their conversation, Eve listened intently, absorbing the information Eleanor provided. Occasionally, she nodded her head or hummed in acknowledgement, signalling her understanding.

Eve quirked an eyebrow and gave her a knowing look, a mischievous smile playing at the corners of her lips. "So, which ones were there when you jumped off the cliff?" she inquired, her voice tinged with both curiosity and feigned innocence.

Eleanor forced a smile, her expression wary. "Mom, I thought we were going to let that go," she protested, her words hesitant.

Eve shook her head firmly. "No, I never said I would," she clarified. "I just want to know which ones were responsible for making you jump off the cliff."

Eleanor, taking a moment to consider her mother's words, asked cautiously, "If I tell you, what will you do to them?"

Eve chuckled softly before replying, "Absolutely nothing. Maybe I'll just give them a glare and a little smirk to scare them. In the end, you were fine, so it's mostly just for some lighthearted teasing."

A snicker escaped Eleanor's lips as a sly grin spread across her face. "Alright then, I'll give you their names."

The remainder of the drive was blissfully tranquil, with only a few words exchanged between the two women. Eve relaxed in her seat, her head occasionally swivelling to glance out the window.

In the corner of her eye, she momentarily caught a glimpse of something—something crimson, hauntingly similar to the colour that matched the enigmatic Victoria's hair.

Not wanting to alarm Eleanor while she was driving, Eve subtly turned her head, trying to confirm her suspicion, but there was nothing but the forest, and empty road ahead.

With a flicker of concern, she discreetly sent a text to Carlisle, informing him of her brief but alarming sighting.

As she read Carlisle's text, a flicker of surprise passed over Eve's features. She hadn't expected such a response, and the news that Alice had had a vision of Victoria was both reassuring and concerning.

Carlisle's suggestion to stay in the tribe's territory so they could hunt for Victoria also caught her off guard. It was a logical plan, but she couldn't help but worry about the danger they might face in confronting the volatile vampire.

He then mentioned that it was time to tell Eleanor and let the pack know there was a vampire that they needed to keep an eye on, and they were free to get her if she approached their territory.

After a few more moments of contemplation, Eve concluded that Carlisle was right. It was time to involve Eleanor, and the pack must be informed to remain vigilant, allowing them to defend their territory if necessary.

With a resigned sigh, Eve turned to look at her daughter, who was silently focused on the road. "Eleanor," she began, her voice gentle but firm, "There's something you need to know."

Eleanor's eyes flickered towards her mother, her expression curious but wary. "What is it?" she asked, shifting her gaze back to the road ahead.

"Carlisle just told me that Alice had a vision," Eve began, her voice laced with a note of seriousness. "She saw that Victoria is coming."

Eleanor's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, her expression sobering. "How soon?" she asked, her voice terse and urgent.

"Soon," Eve confirmed, the gravity of the situation evident in her voice. "But not as soon as you might think. This is why Carlisle suggested we stay at the tribe's territory, so he and the others can hunt her down. He says we'll be safer here."

A mixture of fear and determination flashed across Eleanor's face as she processed the information. "And the pack?" she questioned, her voice steady but laced with a hint of anxiousness.

"It's time to tell them what's going on," Eve responded, her voice firm. "They need to be aware of the situation, and they are free to take action if Victoria steps into their territory."

Eleanor mulled over her mother's words, her mind racing with the implications. Finally, she nodded in agreement. "Okay," she said, her voice steady and resolute. "We'll tell the pack when we get there."

Eve's smile was tinged with a twinge of disappointment as she spoke. "Looks like I won't get to meet them properly," she lamented, a hint of regret in her voice.

Her thoughts betrayed a deeper feeling of discomfort. "I was finally feeling a bit less uneasy about it," she mused silently in her head, the weight of the situation weighing heavily on her mind.